American Federation of Teachers president to call on members to embrace 'solution-driven unionism' at Friday event

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is planning to call for members to embrace “solution-driven unionism” as she addresses delegates at the union’s convention in Detroit on Friday.

Union leaders also are expected to call for “an end to the fixation on high-stakes tests” and the need to invest in infrastructure and public service to create jobs.

Members also are expected to join Detroit teachers in a rally at Detroit Public Schools headquarters to protest the decision by emergency financial manager Roy Roberts to impose a contract.

About 3,000 AFT delegates are attending the national convention in Cobo Hall, which starts Friday and runs through Monday. The AFT is the nation’s second-largest school employee union, and it represents about 90 locals in the state, including Detroit teachers.

Union representatives said Weingarten during her Friday keynote address is expected to introduce the concept of “solution-driven unionism,” which she describes as “a redefinition of unionism that advances solutions focused not just on members, but also on the people they serve and the communities in which they live. Solution-driven unionism will advance creative solutions to unify members and their communities around issues important to all working people.”

Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to address members on Sunday, and UAW President Bob King and education advocate Diane Ravitch are expected on Saturday.

Union members are also expected to vote on a new mission statement that emphasizes the AFT’s “commitment to championing fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities.”

Also planned is a resolution calling for “an end to the fixation on high-stakes testing and the restoration of balance to public education by prioritizing high-quality instruction informed by appropriate and useful assessments.”

The union also expects to vote on a resolution “addressing the need for infrastructure and public service investment to create jobs as the AFT works to improve public education, prepare students for work and improve the outlook of the U.S. economy in the 21st century.”

Weingarten’s call for “solution-driven unionism” follows the call by National Education Association Executive Director John Stocks to become “social justice patriots” at his members’ Representational Assembly earlier in the month.